Cremation – Back to the Ashes

Cremation is a process by which a body is reduced to ashes in a few minutes' time with the aid of heat and evaporation. This is done in preparation for last placement and memorialisation of the deceased. Normally cremation takes place either at a funeral home or a chapel. If the deceased had any specific wish regarding the venue of cremation, it is carried out in accordance with his/ her wishes. The body is cremated with the help of a cremator which functions between 800° Celsius and 1000° Celsius, and burns the body in around 2 ½ hours time.

Why Cremation and not Burial

There are several reasons why some people choose the process of cremation over that of burial. For people with a spiritual bent of mind, or those who believe in afterlife, the process of cremation is preferred since it turns a body into ashes and returns it to the ground. This very thought may seem more agreeable to people of certain religious beliefs.

The thought of allowing a body to decay inside the earth may seem offensive to the sensibilities of some people. They may prefer a

clean and quick disposal by fire, and hence tend to be more comfortable with the idea of cremation. Moreover, after cremation, the remains can be collected in an urn to be either kept by the survivor, or scattered on a river or ocean.

From a more practical point of view, cremation is less expensive than burial. Since there is no need to select a grave side, the charges for cremation automatically come down. Also, there is no need for a headstone. In addition, cremation allows more flexibility to the memorial service planning.

Memorialisation of the cremated remains

Memorialisation is a process by which the family and friends of the deceased can provide a final resting place for the cremated remains of the body. There are various methods of memorialisation. Cremation urns are available at funeral homes, and these can be used by families to preserve the remains. The urns can also be placed in a niche in a columbarium. Niches are basically compartments that protect the carved urn and preserve its adornments. Many cemeteries have urn gardens that are specially designed for this purpose.

Memorialise your loved one with cremation jewellery

Cremation is undoubtedly a sad affair, but you can preserve some of the fond memories of your loved one in the form of cremation jewellery. Cremation jewelleries are alternatives to urns, and can be kept with the survivor. If you wish to keep the remains of your beloved one with you, cremation jewellery can be a good option. Such a piece of jewellery, which is considered a personal token of remembrance, has a small unit to store the ashes. There are various kinds of cremation jewellery available. You can choose from different designs like animal figures, heart shaped pendants, crosses, and many more. The most popular metal for cremation jewelleries is gold. Jewellery in silver, brass, and pewter are also among the popular options.

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Stephen Gately’s funeral

Following the very sad and sudden death of Stephen Gately in Majorca earlier this week, a funeral service for the 33 year old singer and musician is to be held at St Lawrence O’Toole Church, Dublin on Saturday.

Thousands of mourners including celebrities are expected to attend the funeral service.  Boyzone manager Louis Walsh will not be appearing on this weekend’s X Factor as he is to attend the funeral.

Fellow Boyzone members Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham are intending to sing at the funeral ceremony as part of the funeral arrangements.

They are also to stay overnight in the Church with the funeral coffin so that Stephen isn’t alone.

It is expected that a further memorial service will be held in London next week, where Stephen Gately and his husband Andrew Cowles shared a home.

Stephen Gately was found dead at his holiday home last weekend, and post-mortem results concluded he died of natural causes.

There has been a request for no funeral flowers, instead mourners are asked to donate to the Caudwell Children’s Charity for which Gately was a keen ambassador.

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Funeral Flowers: FAQs

Funerals are very mournful occasions, and they symbolise the care the survivors have for the life bygone. A lot of planning is required to organise a funeral service for our departed loved ones. One of the many tasks involves arranging funeral flowers for the wake or memorial service. Due to the sensitive nature of the occasion, utmost care needs to be taken to choose the appropriate flowers.

Funeral flowers tend to reflect the personality of the deceased. Sometimes they are symbolic of the relationship that existed between the survivor who is arranging the funeral service and the deceased. Through the flowers they choose, survivors can also show their love and respect for the dead person.

What type of flower should be chosen?

• Rose• Carnation• Lily• Gerbera Daisy• Aster• Delphinium• Gladiolus• Chrysanthemum

While roses and carnations are considered classic and traditional, a more contemporary funeral flower arrangement combines two or more types of flowers to create a unique and beautiful style.

What is the right colour to choose?

• Flowers can have a great effect on the moods of people. The mere presence of flowers can lift the spirits of a gloomy person. The colour of funeral flowers varies with individual preferences. It ranges from darker shades like purple to brighter ones like yellow. More often than not, we see funeral flowers in soft, pastel, and muted hues, rather than in loud and glaring tones.

• The colour of funeral flowers also depends on the venue of the funeral service. In a funeral home with collared halls, a large white wreath might look quite breathtaking. But this may not be the case if it is placed in a white church or a funeral home. Adding a dash of colour might provide some respite from the already gloomy surroundings.

What is the appropriate flower arrangement to choose?

• Funeral flower arrangements can be both formal and informal. Formal floral arrangements include wreaths and crosses. While flower covered crosses are appropriate for Christian funeral services, wreaths can be used in almost all kinds of funerals.

• Informal flower arrangements for funeral services can include baskets, cut flowers, potted plants, posies, pedestal arrangements, bouquets, planters, headstone flowers, casket lid floral arrangements, sprays, and even a bunch of floral sticks tied with a ribbon.

Many a times, sprays are placed over the deceased's casket. Crosses, bouquets, and wreaths are generally used as displays. These are arranged around the room or hall in which the funeral service takes place. Flowers have the ability to make the ambience soothing and lighten the mood of the mourners.

Custom-made funeral flower arrangements have also become increasingly popular in recent times. There are florists who specialise in creating arrangements that reflect the personality of the deceased. Different patterns, designs, and styles can be juxtaposed to create a unique funeral flower arrangement which will be a real tribute to the deceased. Funeral flowers are perhaps the most elegant and simple way to pay our respects to the departed soul.

Funerals - The Last Good Bye

A funeral is a ceremony to mark the death of a person. A funeral encompasses the set of beliefs and practices of a specific culture. The ceremony is aimed at paying homage to the deceased and praying for the dead person's soul. The word "funeral" is derived from the Latin word "funus" which means "corpse". Sometimes, it is also used to refer to the funeral rites. To be able to perform the funeral rites properly you need help from a funeral service provider.

Choosing a burial option and funeral provider

There are certain things to be kept in mind while choosing the burial option and funeral service provider. Here are some pointers:

1. Selection of a funeral home − While selecting funeral homes, people usually consider distance to be the most important factor. Funeral homes may also be selected on the basis of reference from a trusted person. Availability of services can be another major reason to go with a particular funeral home.

2. The tussle between national and locally owned funeral homes – Funeral homes can be either national or locally owned. While funeral homes owned by the national corporation offer a wider range of services, a locally owned funeral home may prove to be a better option in terms of accessibility and financial considerations.

3. Comparing the facilities provided by the funeral homes - Comparing the services provided by different funeral homes will help you choose the best available option. According to the Funeral Rule, the funeral provider is supposed to provide detailed information regarding the price list, products, and services offered by the particular funeral home. Sometimes special packages are offered by certain funeral homes. It might prove to be beneficial to have information about these facilities.

The usual services provided by funeral homes

Funeral homes provide certain traditional services and products. These include:

• Embalming• Preparing the body• Vault• Casket and coffin options• Memorial service• Graveside service• Hearse

The customs and rituals followed in funerals

There are certain customs and traditions that have been followed through the ages in funeral ceremonies. However, these customs are not universal and depend on the religion and culture of the deceased.

• In Christian tradition, the body of the deceased is normally retained at the funeral parlour for the last visit. In the West, after a burial ceremony, family members gather together at a relative's house or an off-site location for refreshments.

• In Jewish tradition, the body is buried as soon as possible and a seven-day period of mourning is observed by the deceased's family members.

• According to Islamic tradition, friends and family of the deceased accompany the procession to the grave. Post burial, a 10-day mourning period is observed.

• In Buddhist tradition, the body is buried in a week's time and the family members and friends make a charitable donation.

• According to Hindu customs, the body is cremated within 24 hrs and a mourning period is observed.

Funerals are essentially somber occasions and call for all family members and friends of the deceased person to come together for one last time. Even though it is a particularly distressful period, one must make the effort to honor the memories of the deceased.